Role of carbonic anhydrase in calcification in the gorgonianLeptogorgia virgulata

✍ Scribed by Kingsley, Roni J. ;Watabe, Norimitsu

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 956 KB
• Volume: 241
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1402410203

✦ Synopsis

The relationship between carbonic anhydrase and calcification in the gorgonian Leptogorgia virgulata was examined by analysis of the enzyme's activity, its cellular locations and its response to inhibition by Diamox. Enzyme activity was 2.7 nmol pg-' protein s-' at 4°C. Carbonic anhydrase localization at the light level using immunofluorescent techniques and at the ultrastructural level using Hansson's method showed activity in the scleroblasts and axial epithelium. Specifically, at the electron microscopic level this activity was found to be very high on the membranes of the spicule-forming vacuole and electron-dense bodies. Membranes of the microvilli and plasma membranes of the desmocytes showed high activity of this enzyme. The activity on the scleroblast plasma membranes was variable. This enzyme is possibly present in the axis. Regenerated branch tips incubated in seawater containing 0 1987 ALAN R. LISS, INC.